What is a zero tail swing excavator and when do I need one?

## What Is a Zero Tail Swing Excavator? A zero tail swing (ZTS) excavator is a mini excavator designed so that the counterweight and engine housing do not extend beyond the width of the tracks when the machine rotates (swings). This means the machine can swing 360 degrees without the rear of the machine hitting obstacles — walls, fences, parked cars, or other structures. ### Standard Excavator vs Zero Tail Swing: The Difference On a standard mini excavator, the counterweight extends beyond the tracks by 200–400mm when swinging. This means you need clearance behind and beside the machine for safe operation. In a standard residential backyard, this is rarely an issue. On a zero tail swing excavator, the counterweight stays within the track width. This allows the machine to work right up against a wall, fence, or structure without risk of collision. ### When Do You Need a Zero Tail Swing Excavator? ZTS excavators are most valuable in: **Confined backyards:** Sydney's inner-city and inner-west properties often have very tight backyards with fences, walls, and structures on multiple sides. A ZTS excavator can work in these spaces safely. **Working against existing structures:** Excavating footings for extensions, underpinning work, or drainage alongside existing buildings requires the ability to work close to walls without the counterweight striking them. **Narrow corridors and passages:** For trenching along the side of a house or in a narrow passage, a ZTS excavator eliminates the risk of the counterweight hitting the fence or wall. **Underground car parks and low-clearance areas:** ZTS excavators are also used in low-clearance environments where the machine needs to rotate without the counterweight hitting overhead structures. ### BuildHire's ZTS Options BuildHire's 1T and 1.7T mini excavators are zero tail swing machines — ideal for the tight residential sites common across Sydney's inner suburbs, Eastern Suburbs, and North Shore. Contact BuildHire on 1300 157 882 to confirm ZTS availability for your hire. ### Is a ZTS Excavator More Expensive to Hire? ZTS excavators are not significantly more expensive than standard machines of the same size. BuildHire's pricing is based on machine size, not configuration. The 1T and 1.7T ZTS machines are priced the same as equivalent standard machines.